Teenager in position to rise with a Bullet

The deal just fell short of getting over the line last off-season and a leading NBL club are going again with their pursuit of a Cairns hoops prodigy.

Tamuri Wigness watch the National Basketball League (NBL) match between the Cairns Taipans and the Adelaide 36ers, held at the Cairns Convention Centre, fro behind the Taipans bench. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

• New Cairns Taipans home court revealed
• QRL vows to help Cairns clubs get on the field
• Last-ditch effort to revive rugby league in 2020
• New team joins Cairns Netball Division 1 competition

The deal just fell short of getting over the line last off-season and the Brisbane Bullets are going again with their pursuit of Cairns hoops prodigy Tamuri Wigness.

The flashy teenage point guard was in discussions with the Bullets a year ago, with the club looking to bring in the FNQ junior in on a “Next Stars” contract.

The NBL put a stop to that, declaring the clever point guard was not on the level of other Next Stars players, which confused many within the basketball industry.

Brisbane, who finished fifth last year and have been busy in the free agency market already, are of the belief that if they want Wigness, it is likely to be on a full NBL contract.

> GAME IS ON TO BRING PORT’S REIGN TO HALT

A league source on Wednesday noted that a deal between the Bullets and Wigness has been in the works for some time.

Bullets assistant general manager Sam Mackinnon on Wednesday morning confirmed his club’s interest in the floor general from Cairns.

Tamuri Wigness drives from the perimeter in the National Basketball League (NBL) pre season match between the Cairns Taipans and the Brisbane Bullets, held at Early Settler Stadium, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

“We will wait and see as far as announcements and what not, but he is a player that we have identified on our list,” Mackinnon said.

“We have all had dealings with Tamuri through the Australian programs, and Andrej Lemanis has too, and he trialled with us during the pre-season last year and we were impressed with his effort.

Tamuri Wigness watches the National Basketball League (NBL) match between the Cairns Taipans and the Adelaide 36ers, held at the Cairns Convention Centre, from behind the Taipans bench. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

“As a young talent coming through, he is probably high on a few peoples’ lists.”

Wigness’ potential is through the roof, having been selected in extended Australian Boomers squads already and travelling the world with the NBA Global Academy.

He impressed last NBL pre-season with the Bullets, playing against the local Taipans in games as well as attending the NBL Blitz in Tasmania, where he showed he was a player of the future.

The local kid who has trained with the Taipans for years and now somehow is again likely to be playing with their biggest rivals.

The legend of Australian basketball, Mackinnon, clarified Wigness’ potential contract situation, if they were to finalise a deal.

“It is something we looked at last year, the Next Stars, and the NBL did not have him in that position,” Mackinnon said.

“If anyone does sign Tamuri, it would be for a development player or a contracted spot.

“That is where it stands with the NBL right now, if you are looking to sign him, it would be as a contracted player, most likely.”

The Cairns Basketball product, who has only recently turned 18, considered attending college after his junior programs but is set to go professional.

Wigness has trained with his hometown Cairns Taipans on and off over the last four years but they are likely to be beaten to the most exciting Far North product by their intra- state rivals.

At the Bullets, the Torres Strait Islander is expected to be mentored by NBL legend C.J. Bruton, who came into the league as a 19-year-old guard before going on to win six titles.

Originally published as Teenager in position to rise with a Bullet